Road to Mara set for Sh1bn upgrade

Tour firms ferrying visitors to the world famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve have reasons to smile after the government allocated more than Sh1 billion for the tarmacking of Narok-Sekenani Road.

Principal Secretary for Infrastructure, Mr John Mosonik, said construction of the 85-kilometre road will start soon to make it easy for tourists to access the game reserve.

Speaking during the launch of Ilmotiok-Melelo Road funded under the Narok West CDF, Mr Mosonik said the national government would work with Narok County to tarmac the road.

He said the move government intends to improve roads to the Mara, a leading revenue source for Narok and an economic pillar to achieving Vision 2030.

The PS, who was accompanied by Narok West MP Patrick ole Ntutu, said the construction of the road to internationally acceptable standards, was part of the government’s plan to build 10,000 kilometres of road countrywide to open up rural agricultural areas to markets and ease transport for all Kenyans.

Mr Mosonik said the move will boost the image of the reserve globally recognised for the epic migration of thousands of wildebeest from the Serengeti in Tanzania across the crocodile-infested Mara River to the Kenyan side.

Despite the Mara raking in about Sh3 billion per year, the road had been neglected for long.

Kenya Tourists Drivers and Guides Association vice-chairman Andrew Mungatana welcomed the project.

“The move is long overdue and we hope the government will walk the talk this time round,” he said by phone.